Ajith Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan are hailed as two of the biggest stars of Indian cinema today. Although their fan bases are in different industries, many movie buffs are surprised to hear that the two actors actually co-starred in a film more than two decades ago. Ajith was also part of the cast of ‘Asoka’, the ambitious historical drama headlined by Shah Rukh Khan back in 2001. At a time when collaborations between major Tamil and Hindi stars were uncommon, their coming together created plenty of excitement among audiences across the country.
How director Santosh Sivan brought the two stars together
The film was directed by acclaimed filmmaker and cinematographer Santosh Sivan, who envisioned ‘Asoka’ as a grand retelling of Emperor Ashoka’s journey. Shah Rukh Khan not only played the lead role but also co-produced the project. Ajith came on board to play Susima Maurya, Ashoka’s elder half-brother and rival. Though it was not the central role, Ajith’s presence added strength to the story. For Tamil cinema fans, it was a proud moment to see one of their leading stars sharing important scenes with Bollywood’s biggest superstar on such a large-scale production.
Ajith’s performance left a lasting impression on fans
In ‘Asoka,’ Shah Rukh Khan essayed the role of the warrior prince that eventually became Emperor Asoka, while Ajith enacted the role of an equally strong character that stood in his path. The two actors together added a lot of drama to the film and provided the audience with two contrasting types of performances. Even though the film wasn’t a great commercial success in India, it was well-received. Over the years, the film has gained a cult following, and Ajith’s appearance remains one of the most discussed aspects among his fans.
A film that fans still celebrate even today
More than 25 years later, the memory of Ajith and Shah Rukh Khan sharing screen space continues to excite cinema lovers. Amidst a generation of films that have a pan-Indian touch, ‘Asoka’ is definitely a film that came too soon. Many of its fans have always gone down memory lane by recalling scenes from the movie, thinking of how interesting it would be if the two actors did another film together. It is a unique story in the annals of Indian cinematic history, regardless of whether it will be realized or not.
